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ITV Report

6 November 2012 at 11:17am

Jury hears train guard received training before incident

Georgia Varley, 16, died at James Street Station. Photo: ITV

The jury trying a Merseyrail guard, accused of manslaughter after a teenage passenger fell beneath his train, has heard he received training highlighting the risks of such an incident just months earlier.

Christopher McGee, 45, denies the charges against him. 16-year-old Georgia Varley was described as being "very drunk" as she travelled with friends into Liverpool in October 2011.

On the first day of prosecution evidence at Liverpool Crown Court, Liam Willis who was responsible for all guards on Merseyrail at the time said a training presentation had highlighted alcohol as one of the main risks associated with passenger injuries.

The presentation also talked of the risk of passengers falling between the train and the platform.

Mr McGee was also briefed on two incidents where passengers had been injured or killed in similar circumstances, it was claimed.

These "were part of a 26 minute safety briefing where a specific risk was drawn to his attention," claimed prosecutor Nicholas Johnson QC.

CCTV footage showed Georgia, from Wallasey, putting both hands on the outside of the carriage before it left the station on a signal from Mr McGee that it was safe to proceed.

The court heard claims yesterday that the guard was the only person who had the capability to prevent what happened.